ENG438

Assignment

Submitted by: Submitted to:

Saad Mahmud Shafiqur Rahman
ID: 2019-1-40-009 Adjunct Faculty
East West University
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The Subjectivity and Arbitrariness of Arnold’s Touchstone Theory

Poetry is one of the most ancient and revered forms of art that has enriched human civilization

for centuries. However, how do we judge the value and quality of poetry? What are the criteria

and standards that we use to evaluate a poem or a passage from a poem? These are some of the

questions that Matthew Arnold, a prominent Victorian poet, and critic, tries to answer in his

essay “The Study of Poetry”. In this essay, Arnold proposes a method of literary criticism that he

calls the touchstone theory, which involves comparing a poem or a passage from a poem to some

selected passages from the works of great poets, who serve as touchstones or standards of

excellence. However, this theory has been widely criticized by many scholars and critics for

being too subjective, arbitrary, and elitist. This essay will challenge Arnold’s touchstone theory

and demonstrate that it is a flawed and subjective method of literary criticism that fails to

account for the historical and social context of poetry.

One of the main criticisms of Arnold’s touchstone theory is that it relies on the critic’s personal

taste and preference to select the touchstones or standards of excellence. The choice of

touchstones is arbitrary and biased, depending on the critic’s personal taste and preference. There

is no objective or universal criterion to determine which passages from the classic poets are

worthy of being touchstones. Different critics may have different opinions and preferences about

what constitutes truth, beauty, seriousness, and clarity in poetry. Moreover, the choice of

touchstones may reflect the critic’s cultural, ideological, or political biases, which may exclude

or marginalize other perspectives and voices in poetry. Therefore, the touchstone theory is not a
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reliable or fair method of literary criticism, as it depends on the subjective and arbitrary choice of

touchstones by the critic.

Another problem with Arnold’s touchstone theory is that it focuses on the comparison of isolated

passages, rather than the poem as a whole. The comparison of isolated passages ignores the

overall structure, theme, and purpose of the poem as a whole. A poem is not a collection of

random lines or verses, but a coherent and meaningful unit of expression that conveys the poet’s

vision and intention. By comparing only selected passages from the poem to the touchstones, the

critic may miss or distort the main idea and message of the poem. Moreover, the comparison of

isolated passages may not capture the stylistic and aesthetic features of the poem, such as rhyme,

rhythm, meter, imagery, symbolism, tone, mood, etc. Therefore, the touchstone theory is not a

comprehensive or accurate method of literary criticism, as it neglects the overall structure,

theme, and purpose of the poem as a whole.

The theory disregards the influence and importance of non-classic poets who have contributed to

the development and diversity of poetry. Touchstone theory is based on the assumption that the

classic poets are the only ones who have achieved the highest excellence in poetry and can serve

as the standards for other poets and readers. However, this assumption is narrow-minded and

elitist, as it ignores the many other poets who have enriched and diversified the poetic tradition

with their originality, creativity, and innovation. For example, Arnold dismisses Chaucer as a

great poet who falls short of being a classic poet because he lacks the “high seriousness” of the

classic poets. However, Chaucer is widely regarded as the father of English literature and one of

the greatest poets of all time, who introduced new forms, styles, themes, and languages to
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English poetry. Similarly, Arnold overlooks the contributions of many other non-classic poets,

such as Donne, Blake, Wordsworth, Whitman, Dickinson, Eliot, Frost, Yeats, and many more,

who have shaped and transformed the poetic landscape with their distinctive voices and visions.

Therefore, the touchstone theory is not a fair or inclusive method of literary criticism, as it

disregards the influence and importance of non-classic poets who have contributed to the

development and diversity of poetry.

However, some may argue that Arnold’s touchstone theory is not as flawed and subjective as it

seems. They may claim that the choice of touchstones is not arbitrary and biased, but based on

rational and universal criteria, such as truth, beauty, seriousness, and clarity. They may also

assert that the comparison of isolated passages does not ignore the overall structure, theme, and

purpose of the poem as a whole, but highlights the essential features and characteristics of the

poem that transcend time and place. Furthermore, they may contend that the theory does not

disregard the influence and importance of non-classic poets who have contributed to the

development and diversity of poetry, but respects and appreciates the excellence and authority of

classic poets who have set the standards for poetry. These arguments, however, are not

convincing enough to justify Arnold’s touchstone theory as a valid and objective method of

literary criticism. does not provide a proper refutation because it does not follow these steps. It

does not identify the opposing argument or state your position clearly. It does not provide any

evidence or reasoning to support your claim or disprove the counterclaim. It does not conclude

your refutation or restate your thesis statement. It is too vague and general, and it does not

explain why the arguments are not convincing enough.

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A more objective method of literary criticism would be to consider the historical and social

context in which the poem was written, as well as the individual reader's interpretation of the

poem. This would provide a more complete understanding of the poem and its value. Arnold’s

touchstone theory fails to accommodate that. The theory relies on the critic’s personal taste and

preference to select the touchstones or standards of excellence, which are arbitrary and biased.

The theory also focuses on the comparison of isolated passages, rather than the poem as a whole,

which ignores the overall structure, theme, and purpose of the poem. Moreover, the theory

disregards the influence and importance of non-classic poets who have contributed to the

development and diversity of poetry. Therefore, Arnold’s touchstone theory is not a valid and

objective method of literary criticism, but a subjective and arbitrary one that fails to account for

the historical and social context of poetry.

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Works Cited

Arnold, Matthew. “The Study of Poetry” Texts on English Literary Criticism, Friends’ Book

Corner, 2012.